As I see it, the issue here is that history defines the present; we don't live in a vacuum of present-day morals and ethics and perspectives - our preconceptions are built-in, our assumptions are that of the dominant paradigm which has existed for years.
Most people don't question that a white person should always be the hero character or save the day; many don't question that non-whites are always the alien or Other characters, or that the non-whites are relegated to stereotypes or caricatures of people instead of being developed; many don't ask where the pureblood Chinese are in a Sino-American culture, or why there are no Hispanics in So-Cal, or why the main quartet of characters in an entirely Asiatic culture - a culture specifically designed to be non-Western - must be portrayed by white actors, one of whom thinks that all he needs to do to 'pass' as suitably Asian is to get a tan.
These assumptions - those 'pass cards' - are rooted in the racial and racist history of our cultures, in the same way that sexism is rooted in the sexual and sexist history of our cultures. Yes, we bear the weight of history upon us when we enter into these discussions - I think that this linked post looks at the weight of history and how to deal with it, if you're interested.
no subject
Most people don't question that a white person should always be the hero character or save the day; many don't question that non-whites are always the alien or Other characters, or that the non-whites are relegated to stereotypes or caricatures of people instead of being developed; many don't ask where the pureblood Chinese are in a Sino-American culture, or why there are no Hispanics in So-Cal, or why the main quartet of characters in an entirely Asiatic culture - a culture specifically designed to be non-Western - must be portrayed by white actors, one of whom thinks that all he needs to do to 'pass' as suitably Asian is to get a tan.
These assumptions - those 'pass cards' - are rooted in the racial and racist history of our cultures, in the same way that sexism is rooted in the sexual and sexist history of our cultures. Yes, we bear the weight of history upon us when we enter into these discussions - I think that this linked post looks at the weight of history and how to deal with it, if you're interested.